Australians value their nation’s cultural diversity, sense of mateship and easy-going lifestyle, according to a new global survey.

The survey of ‘what makes people proud of their country’ by the Washington- based think tank The Pew Research Centre found Australians are most proud of the people of their country.

“A quarter emphasise the ‘mateship’ they feel with other Australians as well as how they ‘lend a hand’ in times of need, such as natural disasters,” the survey report said.

“They are also proud of their country’s political system and governance (21 per cent) and its diversity (19 per cent). People mention the contributions and ‘rich cultural history’ of the Aboriginal and Indigenous people, as well as how welcoming the country is to immigrants and to all nationalities and religions,” it said.

Australians are also among the most likely to mention the country’s lifestyle (13 per cent) as a source of pride, characterised by a “laid-back” attitude.

One Australian respondent told the researchers: “I feel proud that we live in a wealthy country with a multitude of different cultures. We have great opportunities regarding work and education and generally don’t discriminate about age, race, religion or class. Most Australians I encounter have an outwardly easy-going, honest, open-minded and personable nature”.

Another said: “We are a welcoming and tolerant country. We have a high standard of living. In my part of Australia, we respect everyone’s right to live their life as they want; a farmer or a retail worker is just as important and appreciated as someone in politics or a doctor or a billionaire. We, as a nation, love our relaxed and easy-going natures.”

Yet another respondent told the researchers: “Our laid-back attitude, not having the churches in government, our freedom, having good relationships with other countries, slowly acknowledging our First Nations people, the cleanliness of our country, the thought and planning of our cities, and in emergencies and natural disasters, everyone helps and looks out for each other.”

The Pew centre researchers asked more than 30,000 people in 25 countries what made them feel proud of their country.

People in the UK are proud of the “kind” and “honest” British people (25 per cent), but they just as frequently mention things they are not proud of (29 per cent).

“Some negative responses refer to specific issues, like ‘Brexit was a bad idea’, while others simply say there is ‘not much to feel proud of at the moment’. There are few countries where people mention things they are not proud of as frequently as the British,” the survey report said.

“Interestingly, while people who support the governing Labour Party are less likely to say something negative than those who do not support it, supporters and non-supporters don’t differ on other sources of pride. This includes the political system, mentioned by 22 per cent of Britons, diversity and multiculturalism (16 per cent) and health care (12 per cent), especially the ‘National Health Service’.

Americans are particularly proud of the country’s “freedoms and liberties” (22 per cent); the US is one of a few countries surveyed in which this is the case, the survey found.

“Interestingly, it is the only country surveyed in which there are significant partisan differences in pride in the country’s freedoms (32 per cent of Republicans mention it, compared with 15 per cent of Democrats),” the survey report said.

“When the topic of national pride comes up, the US is one of several countries where something negative is a common response (20 per cent). Once again, this is partisan (8 per cent of Republicans vs 32 per cent of Democrats), though that is also the case in most other surveyed countries.

“Other factors mentioned regularly include the American people (13 per cent) and the economy (11 per cent), with some emphasising their pride in ‘the American dream’ and having ‘plenty of opportunities’,” the report said.

About a quarter of French adults say they are proud of their arts and culture and praise the know-how of artists, like the “craftsmen and women who rebuilt Notre Dame cathedral, the survey found.

“France stands out as one of the countries where people are most likely to express pride in their food (15 per cent), mentioning ‘French cuisine’ and their ability to ‘enjoy good wine and cheese’.” The survey report said.

The country’s people (24 per cent), history (22 per cent) and the services available to the French public (21 per cent) are also key sources of national pride.

“So is the country’s natural beauty (19 per cent), such as its ‘sea, mountains and countryside’.  The national motto – ‘Liberty, Equality, Fraternity’ – is another thing the French take pride in.

“About 22 per cent are proud of the freedom in their country, including the freedom of expression that French people enjoy, or their ‘ability to complain’,” the report said.

Read the full report: What Makes People Proud of Their Country? | Pew Research Center